Input sought on purchase of Big Arm easement

Several state agencies are asking for the public’s input on a draft environmental assessment detailing multiple possibilities for the purchase of a permanent recreation easement for Big Arm State Park, one of the most popular public-access points on Flathead Lake.

The document is a huge step toward Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park’s longtime goal to buy the easement from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation — an action made possible after legislation green-lighted the agency to appropriate $12 million for the purchase through the approval of House Bill 695.

“By creating a permanent recreation easement with a one-time payment, DNRC and FWP mutually agree that this proposal would fulfill the mission for DNRC of generating revenue to support education in Montana, while providing FWP the ability to provide continued management of the property as a public recreation and lake access facility,” according to a recent press release from FWP.

Since 1966, FWP has leased the park, located on Montana School Trust property, from the DNRC for an affordable $18,000 per year, but that rental agreement expires in March 2020. At that point, the state will transfer to a standard lease appraisal formula, charging the agency an estimated 5% of assessed property value — a dollar figure that, until this year, had not been evaluated in over 25 years.

The 218-acre park was recently valued at about $8.1 million, which means rent for FWP would bump up to about $400,000 per year, beginning in March. Agency officials have made it clear that FWP would not be able to afford such a price in the long-term, which could possibly prompt the DNRC to sell the prized park to another interested party instead.

According to the draft environmental assessment, “if FWP does not renew the annual lease, FWP would cease to operate the State Park, and DNRC would determine how to best repurpose the property in accordance with the school trust mandate and real property management directives.”

The no-action situation in which FWP continues to lease, however, is one neither agency agrees with.

The favored alternatives are the other two laid out in the draft environmental assessment.

The first is for the agency to purchase the property as is for nearly $8.1 million, while the DNRC would continue to fulfill its fiduciary responsibility to generate revenue for the school trust. This option would also authorize FWP to make use of the area for a public recreation site, including the building of associated roads and trails, boating facilities and developing additional recreational amenities. Future add-ons would follow the Montana Environmental Policy Act guidelines for environmental review and public input.

The second alternative is for FWP to purchase a nearby 23-acre parcel in addition to the 218-acre permanent easement for nearly $10.1 million. The acreage adjoins the park’s current southern boundary and would allow for the “availability of additional waterfront acreage for outdoor recreation and access,” according to the assessment. If this alternative if chosen, the DNRC would move to find other uses for the parcel in order to “meet their constitutional obligations to secure full-market value for its use.” Not included in the 23-acre site is a private 2-acre plot with a cabin on the property.

According to Dave Landstrom, manager for Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1, both options fall within FWP’s allotted $12 million budget and are, as of right now, of equal interest to the agency.

“We haven’t selected a preferred alternative yet,” Landstrom said. “Both would basically guarantee permanent public access at the park, but we are looking forward to hearing what the public has to say since this scoping process is an important part of the purchase.”

To date, the agency has received only positive public commentary regarding the purchase, according to Landstrom.

The public comment period for the draft environmental assessment runs through Jan. 3, 2020 at 5 p.m. The document can be viewed and commented on at fwp.mt.gov or written comments can be submitted to 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, Montana 59901 with the attention “Big Arm Permanent Easement Proposal.”

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4409 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com